Let Your Father Handle This, Son

From their conversation over the past few hours, Lin Li had gained a decent understanding of Ning Yang.

Ning Yang was Ning Fengzhi's second son. His Innate Soul Power was a pitiful three ranks. With the resources provided by his family, despite his poor talent and the slow cultivation speed of a Support Type Soul Master, he had reached rank twenty-four and become a Soul Grandmaster at the age of eighteen this year.

Although his talent was nothing special, he had still received a fair amount of affection. Ning Yang's childhood had been reasonably pleasant.

But everything changed after Ning Fengzhi's daughter, the family's third child, Ning Rongrong, was born.

Although Ning Rongrong was spoiled and rude toward outsiders, she had been born knowing how to please Sword and Bone Douluo, and her father liked her very much as well.

Moreover, she had awakened the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda with Innate Soul Power of rank nine, so the position of sect master had effectively been reserved for her.

Out of guilt toward his son, as well as for other reasons, Ning Fengzhi taught Ning Yang all his skills in manipulating people's hearts. He also had him leave the sect to do business and gain experience, so that he could become Ning Rongrong's right-hand man in the future.

Ning Yang had not disappointed Ning Fengzhi. Not only had he opened the Treasure Pavilion through his own efforts, but he had also recruited six Soul Elders as guards to protect him in shifts.

Because he was Ning Fengzhi's son, he had also faced constant assassinations. He had survived all of them by relying on himself.

As for whether others had taken care of Ning Yang after learning his identity, and whether he truly had no hidden guards, Ning Yang had answered with a somewhat sorrowful smile:

"I'm the second son in the family. My Big Brother was seven years older than me, and Father sent him out the same way back then. He died in an assassination attempt..."

"Father wouldn't arrange hidden guards to protect us. He might have people watching us, but they would never be there to protect us... Those of us without good talent, who don't know how to please Father, are like this. We'll be like this for our entire lives..."

Lin Li did not know exactly how many sons Ning Fengzhi had, but these two should be his legitimate sons.

As for other people's family affairs, Lin Li did not feel it appropriate to say much. Being born into a great sect had both advantages and disadvantages.

Perhaps only Ning Rongrong, the little princess who knew how to please the Titled Douluo, had experienced only the sect's glamorous side.

No...

Even that little princess had later been bound by the sect's rules because of Oscar.

"Brother Lin, you and I hit it off at first sight, yet you're leaving..."

Ning Yang suddenly spoke, bringing Lin Li back to his senses.

He was referring to Lin Li's situation. Earlier, Lin Li had told him that he came from a poor background and had followed a merchant caravan all the way to Heaven Dou City.

He had told him some things and kept others hidden, such as the God Trial, the exact nature of his relationship with Huo Tianquan, and his battle with a Soul Saint.

Thinking about it, Lin Li realized that his life had been rather glorious.

As long as the conditions were met, he could actually fight top-tier experts—and not just once.

"Slap!!"

A crisp sound rang out. Ning Yang had struck both hands against the table.

"Brother Lin, you're leaving tomorrow, so I'll go with you!"

"Is that... really appropriate? You still have a shop, after all..."

Lin Li hesitated. Could this guy really be drunk?

"If it's merely worldly wealth, why should I care?" Ning Yang waved his hand, grabbed the wine jug, and filled both their cups. "Although I was born into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I've been self-reliant since childhood. Brother Lin, you and I are so alike that I can't help but care about you."

"Tomorrow, I'll bring my people and go with you to Heaven Dou City. It isn't too far anyway... At the very least, until you find somewhere to settle, you can save on lodging costs. By then..."

Before he could finish, Ning Yang fell onto the table with a "thud" and passed out.

Lin Li touched his own face, then sniffed at himself.

I'm handsome, but it's not like I'm that irresistible, right?

Was Ning Yang pretending or genuinely drunk? He was actually planning to leave with him just like that.

If Huo Tianquan or Huo Wushuang had acted this way, Lin Li would not have thought too much about it. It would have been perfectly reasonable.

"Forget it..."

Lin Li did not continue thinking about it. After finishing the wine in his cup, he stood up, left a message with the two guards outside the door, and departed.

Not long after Lin Li left, the two guards used hangover medicine and Soul Power to help Ning Yang wake up.

"...That's enough. I'm awake."

Ning Yang waved his hand. He had more or less regained consciousness.

This was the first time he had used the final method his father had taught him: treating someone with genuine sincerity.

Deep down, he both loved and hated his father, Ning Fengzhi. He had always been unwilling to speak about his Big Brother or his childhood, but at this moment, he had used them as bargaining chips.

Even sincerity could be a bargaining chip.

Ning Yang still felt that he had not grasped the essence of it, so he decided to return home at once.

Making friends with Lin Li was an opportunity. He had already seen Lin Li's two Soul Rings. That was the bargaining chip Lin Li had thrown out.

"Take me home."

"The carriage is ready."

One of the guards stepped forward and said to Ning Yang, "Young Master, Young Master Lin said before he left that they would meet at the East Gate tomorrow morning."

"I understand."

Ning Yang returned to the sect. The moment he entered the house, he saw the sect's two Titled Douluo laughing and playing with the only eight-year-old Ning Rongrong, while his father, Ning Fengzhi, smiled beside them with both gratification and helplessness.

Was I envious?

Ning Yang asked himself this deep down, but he did not dare listen to his own answer.

The answer was probably more than envy. It was jealousy.

"Father."

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang out, and the eyes of everyone present turned toward Ning Yang.

Ning Rongrong stared at him, frowning as she thought for a long time. Only then did she remember who he was. She ran over, grabbed Ning Yang's hand, and shouted happily, "Big Brother!"

Ning Yang smiled and patted Ning Rongrong on the head.

His heart was filled with contradictions. On one hand, he envied and resented the love Ning Rongrong received from her two grandfathers and their father. On the other, he had to admit that his little sister had no malicious intentions, and that her feelings toward him were genuine.

The person I hate is the only one in the family who truly treats me well.

Ning Yang raised his head, maintaining an elegant expression similar to Ning Fengzhi's, and greeted Sword and Bone Douluo and Ning Fengzhi once more.

The two Douluo responded briefly, but they were still more interested in Ning Rongrong. They picked up the little girl and left.

Ning Fengzhi looked at his son and nodded. "You've gotten a little thinner. Why have you come back this time?"

Ning Yang composed himself and decided to ask his father for advice, as he had planned, to see how well he had handled things.

His own emotions were personal. A genius like Lin Li could protect the sect for a hundred years, just like Sword and Bone Douluo. That was a matter of public importance.

The sect could not lose this opportunity just because Ning Yang lacked ability.

Ning Yang knew that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was suffering from a lack of successors.

After clearly recounting everything that had happened that day, Ning Yang looked up at his seemingly shocked father.

In his account, he had placed particular emphasis on how he and Lin Li had hit it off at first sight.

After listening, Ning Fengzhi paced back and forth.

His first thought was to have Ning Rongrong marry Lin Li.

Whether Lin Li married into the family or they had a normal marriage, a genius capable of breaking conventions was, in Ning Fengzhi's eyes, more important than his daughter's happiness.

But when he thought of the affection Sword and Bone Douluo had for Rongrong, as well as Rongrong's own personality, Ning Fengzhi had no choice but to reconsider.

His gaze fell on his son.

Fortunately, I still have a second choice.

"You did reasonably well, but there were shortcomings."

Ning Fengzhi took Ning Yang's hand and led him into the garden where he had just played with Ning Rongrong. He sat down with him.

"Treating people with genuine sincerity was something I taught you, and that part was not wrong. But you can't reveal everything right from the start. Treating people that way is even three times weaker than using wealth."

"Please teach me, Father!"

Seeing Ning Yang's expression, Ning Fengzhi smiled with satisfaction at his promising student, then began explaining in detail.

But half an hour later.

Ning Fengzhi's expression had changed to one of exasperation.

Ning Yang was indeed capable, but he was not capable enough. No matter how he explained certain key points, Ning Yang simply could not learn them...

He was unlike Ning Fengzhi, who had thoroughly mastered every method and technique, using different bargaining chips at the appropriate times to keep his targets firmly on his side.

Perhaps it was because he had sent Ning Yang out too early. There was a certain purity in his personality.

If he began with a relationship based on profit, then it would always remain a relationship based on profit. Even when those guards later became extremely loyal, Ning Yang never regarded them as companions or friends. In Ning Yang's eyes, since they had come for his money, they could never receive his genuine sincerity.

"Son, I don't think you can handle this!"

Ning Fengzhi sighed helplessly, then continued, "Let your father handle this!"

"Father!"

That cry sounded almost like a shout. Ning Fengzhi lowered his head and saw that Ning Yang had somehow stopped maintaining the same elegant expression as him. His eyes were slightly red, and upon closer inspection, his muscles were twitching faintly, causing ripples across his skin.

"Trust me."

Those three simple words made Ning Fengzhi abandon his plan to personally intervene.

"For the Treasure Pavilion you're opening in Heaven Dou City, I'll have people provide funding."

"Even if you ultimately fail to befriend him, don't make Lin Li hostile toward our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Ning Fengzhi did not say the second sentence aloud. He waved his hand, signaling that Ning Yang could leave.

And so, the father and son, who had not seen each other for many years, parted once again.

Ning Yang left along the same route. Two guards came to his side and handed him a letter.

"Young Master, we've already spoken with the Council of Elders. We know what should and shouldn't be said."

"Good."

Ning Yang nodded. After reading the letter, he destroyed it.

Now I can rest easy.

He had not originally planned this, but Lin Li's appearance had given Ning Yang an idea—a plan to prove himself.